Leechcraft – the Early English Healing Tradition

An examination of medical practice in Anglo-Saxon England with a focus on plant-based preparations. Evidence will be drawn from archaeology and the three Old English principal manuscripts to indicate the range of materials used and the purposes to which they were put. The combination of classical medical literature and native herblore produced a remarkably diverse medical tradition.

Provisional Programme:

09.50 – 10.15: Coffee on arrival

10.15 – 11.15: Leechcraft – the Old English Healing Tradition (SP) – An introduction to the Anglo-Saxon tradition of healing, and an overview of some of the problems.

11.15 – 11.40: Coffee break

11.40 – 12.40: The Medical Manuscript Tradition (SP) – An overview of the written sources of our knowledge.

12.40 – 14.00: Lunch break

14.00 – 14.50: Anglo-Saxon Materia Medica (RB) – A discussion of some of the mineral and vegetable materials mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon manuscripts.

14.50 – 15.10: Tea break

15.10 – 16.00: What Ails Thee? (SP) – A survey of the Anglo-Saxon understanding of disease and the role of the healer in society.

c.16.00: Thanks and Close

About Steve Pollington:

Stephen has been writing books on Anglo-Saxon England for two decades. His many published titles include works on the Old English language, military culture, healing and herblore, runes and feasting, as well as a double CD of readings in Old English. He has lectured widely on Anglo-Saxon culture and has worked on many television and radio programmes. For more on his work, see his website at www.stevepollington.com/index.html .

About Robin Baker:

Robin Baker is an East India Merchant specialising in botanical drugs, spices, and animal derivatives. He is Past President of the International General Produce Association, a member of the British Standards Institution, a contributor to Trease & Evans’s Pharmacognosy (London 2009), and an Anglo-Saxon numismatist.

Stay up to date:

Summer Programme:

The Court at Sutton Hoo is still closed for the refurbishment works. We had hoped to find other venues to run the Study Days in the interim, however that has not proved possible so we are assuming that the Study Days will restart again in the Court in September. We are planning an exciting set of topics and speakers. Apologies for the long gap.